Container cap for improving opening/closing performance of membrane-type valve

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve by stabilizing opening/closing of the membrane-type valve to smoothly discharge or block liquid or gel contents.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a container cap, and more particularly, to a container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve by stabilizing opening/closing of the membrane-type valve to smoothly discharge or block liquid or gel contents.

BACKGROUND ART

As disclosed in Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2003-0019881 (published on Mar. 7, 2003), a container cap is provided on the inlet of a flexible container to allow or prevent the discharge of liquid or gel contents from the flexible container.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, a discharge port 11′ is formed in an upper surface, and thus as a container 100 is pressed, contents 200 flowing toward an inlet is discharged through the discharge port 11′. Then, as pressing of the container 100 is stopped, discharge of the contents 200 through the discharge port 11′ is interrupted.

However, it is difficult to control the discharge of contents through a discharge port of a general container cap.

That is, when a container is pressed excessively, a significant amount of the contents is discharged at once from a general container cap in which a discharge port is formed, and thus it is difficult to control the discharge amount of the contents. In particular, when the container is laid down or turned over, the contents may be unexpectedly discharged.

For this reason, recently, as shown in FIG. 4, a container cap A″ including a discharge port 11″ and a membrane-type valve 20′ supported by a fixing member 30′ is applied to the inlet of a flexible container containing liquid or gel contents.

In this case, such a membrane-type valve makes it easy to control the discharge of contents, for example, to prevent the unintended discharge of contents even when a container is laid down or turned over, because a fine through-hole formed in a center portion of the membrane-type valve is opened as the container is pressed and is closed as pressing of the container is stopped

However, a sensitive membrane-type valve is opened even when a container is slightly pressed, and thus contents may be unintentionally discharged. In addition, when pressing of the container is stopped, the sensitive membrane-type valve is closed after the container returns to its original state (after the container returns to its original shape as air is sufficiently introduced into the container), and thus the periphery of a discharge port may be contaminated by the contents.

In addition, an insensitive membrane-type valve is opened only after a container is pressed with significant force, and thus a significant amount of force is necessary to discharge contents from the container. Furthermore, since the insensitive membrane-type valve is immediately closed after pressing of the container is stopped, the container may not sufficiently return to its original state or may slowly return to its original state. Therefore, while returning of the container to its original state is delayed, noise occurs because air is forcibly introduced into the container.

For these reasons, there have been attempts in the related field to develop a container cap having a stably openable/closable membrane-type valve to smoothly allow and interrupt discharge of liquid or gel contents through the membrane-type valve. However, satisfactory results have not yet been obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Technical Problem

The present disclosure is provided by considering the above-mentioned situations to solve the problem in which discharge of liquid or gel contents through a membrane-type valve is not smoothly carried out or interrupted because the membrane-type valve provided on a container cap is unstably opened and closed, and thus an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve.

Solution to Problem

According to an aspect of the present disclosure for achieving the objective, a container cap for improving opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve, the container cap includes: a main body coupled to an inlet of a container and including a discharge port formed in an upper end thereof, the discharge port communicated with an outside and an inside of the container; a membrane-type valve coupled to the discharge port and including a fine through-hole in a center portion thereof, wherein the fine through-hole is opened or closed depending on whether the membrane-type valve is pressurized; and a fixing member coupled between the main body and the membrane-type valve and supporting the membrane-type valve on the discharge port, wherein the fixing member includes an extension having a given length extending from a side of the discharge port toward the inside of the container.

The discharge port includes a latching protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof.

The membrane-type valve may be formed of silicone.

The membrane-type valve includes an annular protrusion formed along an edge portion thereof.

The fixing member includes a support protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof.

The extension may have an inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed.

The extension may have an inner diameter less than an inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed.

The extension may have an inner diameter greater than an inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF DISCLOSURE

In the container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve of the present disclosure, the fixing member supporting the membrane-type valve includes the extension extending from a side of the discharge port toward the inside of the container. Therefore, when the container is pressed, the extension blocks transversal pressure acting on the membrane-type valve, and thus the membrane-type valve is opened and closed only by a given degree of vertical pressure, thereby stabilizing opening and closing of the membrane-type valve and making it possible to smoothly discharge liquid or gel contents through the membrane-type valve and smoothly interrupt discharge of the liquid or gel contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example in which the inner diameter of an extension of a fixing member is less than the inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed in the container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example in which the inner diameter of the extension of the fixing member is greater than the inner diameter of the portion of the fixing member on which the support protrusion is formed in the container cap for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve, according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a container cap including a membrane-type valve of the related art.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a general container cap of the related art.

MODE OF DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the present disclosure, a container cap A for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve includes a main body 10, a membrane-type valve 20, and a fixing member 30.

The main body 10 is coupled to an inlet of a container 100 and has a discharge port 11 on an upper end, and the discharge port 11 communicated with the outside and the inside of the container 100.

The inner circumferential surface of a lower end portion of the main body 10 is coupled to the outer circumferential surface the inlet of the container 100 by spiral engagement.

In addition, the discharge port 11 preferably includes a latching protrusion 11 a formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof.

Accordingly, as an edge portion of the membrane-type valve 20 is caught on the latching protrusion 11 a, upward wobbling of the membrane-type valve 20 is prevented.

The membrane-type valve 20 is coupled to the discharge port 11, and a fine through-hole (not shown in the drawings) formed in a center portion of the membrane-type valve 20 is opened or closed depending on whether the membrane-type valve 20 is pressurized or not.

The membrane-type valve 20 may be formed of any material as long as the membrane-type valve 20 is a soft membrane-type valve. However, if possible, the membrane-type valve 20 may be preferably formed of silicone.

Since silicone has relatively high ductility, the through-hole may be smoothly opened or closed depending on whether the membrane-type valve is pressurized.

In addition, preferably, the membrane-type valve 20 includes an annular protrusion 21 formed along an edge thereof.

Therefore, as the annular protrusion 21 rests on a support protrusion 31 of the fixing member 30 (described later), the membrane-type valve 20 is supported by the fixing member 30. That is, downward wobbling of the membrane-type valve 20 is prevented.

The fixing member 30 is coupled between the main body 10 and the membrane-type valve 20 and supports the membrane-type valve 20 on the discharge port 11.

It is preferable that the fixing member 30 include the support protrusion 31 formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof.

Therefore, as the latching protrusion 11 a of the membrane-type valve 20 rests on the support protrusion 31 of the fixing member 30, the membrane-type valve 20 is supported by the fixing member 30. That is, downward wobbling of the membrane-type valve 20 is prevented.

In addition, preferably, the fixing member 30 includes an extension 32 having a given length extending from a side of the discharge port 11 toward the inside of the container 100.

Since the fixing member 30 includes the extension 32, when the container 100 is pressed, the extension 32 may prevent transversal pressure from being applied to the membrane-type valve 20, and thus only a given degree of vertical pressure may be applied to the membrane-type valve 20, thereby stabilizing opening/closing of the membrane-type valve 20.

In this case, if the extension 32 is excessively short, transversal pressure may not be sufficiently blocked, and if the extension 32 is excessively long, manufacturing costs may increase because more materials are used.

In addition, the extension 32 may have an inner diameter d2 equal to or less than the inner diameter d1 of a portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed.

If the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 is less than the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed, when the container 100 is pressed with the discharge port 11 facing downward, contents 200 may be pressed downward by an inclined surface 32 a formed on a side of the discharge port 11, and thus vertical pressure acting on the membrane-type valve 20 may be relatively increased. As a result, the membrane-type valve 20 may be more sensitively operated than before.

In this case, if the difference between the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 and the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed is insignificant, the contents 200 is insignificantly pressed by the inclined surface 32 a, and thus even when the container 100 is pressed, opening of the membrane-type valve 20 may be delayed beyond expectation. Conversely, if the difference between the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 and the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed is significant, the contents 200 may be excessively pressed by the inclined surface 32 a, and thus even when pressing of the container 100 is stopped, closing of the membrane-type valve 20 may be delayed.

In addition, the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 may be equal to the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed or may be greater than the inner diameter d2 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed.

If the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 is greater than the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed, when the container 100 is pressed with the discharge port 11 facing downward, the contents 200 may be supported upward by the inclined surface 32 a formed on the side of the discharge port 11, and thus vertical pressure acting on the membrane-type valve 20 may be relatively decreased. As a result, the membrane-type valve 20 may be more insensitively operated than before.

In this case, if the difference between the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 and the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed is insignificant, the contents 200 is insignificantly supported by the inclined surface 32 a, and thus even when pressing of the container 100 is stopped, closing of the membrane-type valve 20 may be delayed beyond expectation. Conversely, if the difference between the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 and the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed is significant, the contents 200 may be excessively supported by the inclined surface 32 a, and thus even when the container 100 is pressed, opening of the membrane-type valve 20 may be excessively delayed.

The opening and closing stability of the membrane-type valve 20 of the container cap A for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve will now be described in detail according to the present disclosure.

In the present disclosure, the fixing member 30 includes the extension 32 having a given length extending from a side of the discharge port 11 toward the inside of the container 100.

Therefore, when the container 100 is pressed, transversal pressure is blocked by the extension 32, and thus only a given degree of vertical pressure acts on the membrane-type valve 20 supported by the fixing member 30, thereby stabilizing opening/closing of the membrane-type valve 20.

In this case, the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 may be equal to or less than the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed.

Therefore, if it is intended to adjust the operation of the membrane-type valve 20 to be more sensitive, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 may be adjusted to be less than the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed. Then, when the container 100 is pressed with the discharge port 11 facing downward, the contents 200 may be pressed downward by the inclined surface 32 a formed on the side of the discharge port 11, and thus vertical pressure acting on the membrane-type valve 20 may be relatively increased. As a result, the membrane-type valve 20 may be more sensitively operated than before.

Conversely, if it is intended to adjust the operation of the membrane-type valve 20 to be more insensitive, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner diameter d2 of the extension 32 may be adjusted to be greater than the inner diameter d1 of the portion of the fixing member 30 on which the support protrusion 31 is formed. Then, when the container 100 is pressed with the discharge port 11 facing downward, the contents 200 may be supported by the inclined surface 32 a on the side of the discharge port 11, and thus vertical pressure acting on the membrane-type valve 20 may be relatively decreased. As a result, the membrane-type valve 20 may be more insensitively operated than before.

As described above, in the container cap A for improving the opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve according to the present disclosure, the fixing member 30 supporting the membrane-type valve 20 includes the extension 32 extending from a side of the discharge port 11 toward the inside of the container 100. Thus, when the container 100 is pressed, transversal pressure acting on the membrane-type valve 20 is blocked by the extension 32, and thus the membrane-type valve 20 is opened and closed by only a given degree of vertical pressure. Thus, the opening and closing of the membrane-type valve 20 may be stabilized, and thus the contents 200 such as liquid or gel contents may be smoothly discharged through the membrane-type valve 20 or may be smoothly prevented from being discharged.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments but may be embodied in different forms within the scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims, and such modifications are within the scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

10: main body 11, 11′, 11″; discharge port 11a: latching portion 20, 20′: membrane-type valve 21: annular protrusion 30, 30′: fixing member 31: support protrusion 32: extension 32a: inclined surface 100: container 200: contents A, A′, A″: container cap d1: inner diameter of a portion on which a support protrusion is formed d2: inner diameter of an extension 

1. A container cap for improving opening/closing performance of a membrane-type valve, the container cap comprising: a main body coupled to an inlet of a container and comprising a discharge port formed in an upper end thereof, the discharge port communicated with an outside and an inside of the container; a membrane-type valve coupled to the discharge port and comprising a fine through-hole in a center portion thereof, wherein the fine through-hole is opened or closed depending on whether the membrane-type valve is pressurized; and a fixing member coupled between the main body and the membrane-type valve and supporting the membrane-type valve on the discharge port, wherein the fixing member comprises an extension having a given length extending from a side of the discharge port toward the inside of the container.
 2. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the discharge port comprises a latching protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof.
 3. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the membrane-type valve is formed of silicone.
 4. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the membrane-type valve comprises an annular protrusion formed along an edge portion thereof.
 5. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the fixing member comprises a support protrusion formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof.
 6. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the extension has an inner diameter equal to an inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed.
 7. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the extension has an inner diameter less than an inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed.
 8. The container cap of claim 1, wherein the extension has an inner diameter greater than an inner diameter of a portion of the fixing member on which a support protrusion is formed. 